0000000000003961
AUTHOR
J. Claros
Assessing the effect of emergent vegetation in a surface-flow constructed wetland on eutrophication reversion and biodiversity enhancement
Abstract A free water-surface constructed wetland (F4-unit) was created in a Mediterranean protected site to treat eutrophic inflows to the Albufera de Valencia lagoon, and enhance biodiversity. In 2013, the F4-unit was divided into three subunits and planted with different compositions of emergent macrophytes (Phragmites australis, Iris pseudacorus, and a mixture of several macrophytes: F4-Reed, F4-Iris and F4-Mixed subunits). Two nine-month periods were monitored after planting, and water quality variables were measured in the inflows and outflows. Waterfowl occupation and plankton biomass were analyzed to evaluate their role in eutrophication reversion. The low removal efficiencies relat…
Monitoring pH and ORP in a SHARON reactor
This paper analyses the valuable information provided by the on-line measurements of pH and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) in a continuous single high ammonia removal over nitrite (SHARON) reactor. A laboratory-scale SHARON reactor equipped with pH, ORP, electric conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO) probes has been operated for more than one year. Nitrogen removal over nitrite has been achieved by adding methanol at the beginning of anoxic stages. Time evolution of pH and ORP along each cycle allows identifying the decrease in nitritation rate when ammonia is consumed during the aerobic phase and the end of the denitrification process during the anoxic phase. Therefore, monitoring pH…
Short-term effect of ammonia concentration and salinity on activity of ammonia oxidizing bacteria.
A continuously aerated SHARON (single reactor high activity ammonia removal over nitrite) system has been operated to achieve partial nitritation. Two sets of batch experiments were carried out to study the effect of ammonia concentration and salinity on the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Activity of AOB raised as free ammonia concentration was increased reaching its maximum value at 4.5 mg NH 3 -N l −1 . The half saturation constant for free ammonia was determined (K NH 3 = 0.32 mg NH 3 -N l −1 ). Activity decreased at TAN (total ammonium–nitrogen) concentration over 2,000 mg NH 4 -N l −1 . No free ammonia inhibition was detected. The effect of salinity was studied by adding…
Analysis of uncontrolled phosphorus precipitation in anaerobic digesters under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions.
This study compares the operation of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and their effects in uncontrolled phosphorus precipitation. The research has been carried out using a pilot plant consisting of two digesters of 1.6 m3 working volume, treating the mixed sludge of Alzira WWTP (Valencia, Spain). The digesters were operated in parallel, at different conditions: mesophilic (38 ± 2.0°C) and thermophilic (55 ± 2.5°C) temperatures and organic loading rates (OLR) ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 kg volatile solids (VS) m−3 d−1 and different hydraulic retention times (HRT) 20, 15 and 12 days. Uncontrolled precipitation was evaluated through P, Mg and Ca mass balances in bot…
Modeling the decay of nitrite oxidizing bacteria under different reduction potential conditions
[EN] Autotrophic growth and decay rates of ammonium and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB, respectively) have a significant impact on the design and on the process performance of wastewater treatment systems where nitrification occurs. Literature data on the separate decay rates of AOB and NOB is scarce and inconsistent. In this study, batch experiments based on respirometric techniques were conducted to determine the NOB decay rates under different oxidation-reduction potential conditions, in order to widen the understanding of nitrite dynamics. The decay rate measured under anoxic conditions was 85% lower than under aerobic conditions, whereas under anaerobic conditions the decay ra…
Real-time control strategy for nitrogen removal via nitrite in a SHARON reactor using pH and ORP sensors
This paper presents a real-time control strategy for nitrogen removal via nitrite in a continuous flow SHARON reactor using on-line available and industrially feasible sensors (pH and ORP). The developed control strategy optimizes the length of aerobic and anoxic phases as well as the external carbon source addition. This strategy, implemented in a laboratory-scale SHARON reactor fed with synthetic wastewater and real dewatering sludge supernatant, was able to cope with step variations in influent flow rate and ammonium concentration. The main advantages of this control strategy over the traditional operation mode with fixed carbon source dosification and fixed length cycle operation were: …
Effect of pH and HNO2 concentration on the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in a partial nitritation reactor
Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are very sensitive to environmental conditions and wastewater treatment plant operational parameters. One of the most important factors affecting their activity is pH. Its effect is associated with: NH3/NH4 þ and HNO2/NO2 chemical equilibriums and biological reaction rates. The aim of this study was to quantify and model the effect of pH and free nitrous acid (FNA) concentration on the activity of AOB present in a lab-scale partial nitritation reactor. For this purpose, two sets of batch experiments were carried out using biomass from this reactor. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis showed that Nitrosomona eutropha and Nitrosomona europaea species we…